Drop cord and canopy supporting bridge



March 14, 1933. J. B. GLOWACKI DROP CORD AND CANOPY SUPPORTING BRIDGE Filed Feb. 9. 1951 gala-=5 5 0M film n i M.

patented Mar. 14, 1933 PATENT OFFICE JOHN B. GLOWAOKI OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS D'Ror com) AND CANOPY SUPPORTING BRIDGE Application filed February 9, 1931. Serial No. 514,475;

This invention relates to an improved type of electrical fixture bridge and more particularly to a bridge which is so constructed that it is readily attachable to standard outlet boxes of different sizes and in addition is equipped to support a drop cord and a canopy allowing the drop cord to project downwardly through the adjustable canopysupporting A means which is provided with a suitable guard for the protection of the drop cord.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved type of fixture supporting bridge adaptable to fit standard outlet boxes of different sizes and having the middle por- Btion thereof so'constructed and equipped to permit an interfitting drop cord and canopy to be independently supported in position.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an improved type of supporting bridge embracing a middle" section and extension arms with said arms being provided with suitable openings to permit the bridge to be removably secured to standard outlet boxes of different sizes, while the middle section of the bridge is equipped with a drop cord gripping device and with an adjustable canopy su ortin unit to which a dro cord 'uard .1 .D V

is removably connected.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a fixture supporting bridge attachable to standard outlet boxes of different sizes with said bridge having an intermediate section having a drop cord gripping unit bridged thereacross above the bottom of said intermediate section to permit adjustment of a canopy supporting unit adjustable in the bottom of said intermediate section after the supporting bridge has been mounted inposition and the drop cord wires have been connected to the terminal wires in the outlet box.

It is furthermore an object of this invention toprovide a drop cord supporting bridge constructed to fit standard outlet boxes of different sizes and furthermore having a threaded opening therein for the reception of a threaded stem secured in a canopy supporting coupler engaged over the drop cord and having removably engaged therewith a 50 drop cord guard device whereby a canopy may be rapidly and conveniently supported in position to enclose the supporting bridge after the drop cord wires have been connected to the terminal wires in the outlet box.

It is an important object of this invention to provide an improved type of drop cord and canopy supporting bridge having openings therein to permit the bridge to be fitted to standard outlet boxes of different sizes, said bridge having an apertured depressed portion for supporting a drop cord gripping device bridged across the depressed portion thereof above the lewer end of the depressed portion to permit adjustment of a threaded stem and canopy supporting coupler and drop cord guard thereby producing a fixture 65 bridge of a universal type carrying a drop cord gripping means which is so positioned that it does not interfere with the adjustable mounting of a canopy supporting unit adjustably engaged in the bridge. 79

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawing.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional View of an outlet box and supporting bridge having connected therewith a drop cord gripping means and a canopy supporting unit illustrating the various mechanisms in assembled relation to support a drop cord and a canopy in place.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line IIII of Figure 1 with the drop cord illustrated in section.

Figure 3 is a reduced vertical sectional view of the outlet box and supporting bridge showing the drop cord gripped in position and having slidably engaged thereon below the bridge a canopy together with a canopy supporting unit and a drop cord guard in lowered position prior to the supporting of the canopy by the supporting unit when raised into the position illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the outlet box of a small standard size having reguard spri sliding movement with ping means is bridged across thespace provided between the side arms 6 of the middle or U-shaped section of the supporting bridge a considerable distance above the bottom plate 7 of said intermediate or auxiliary section of the bridge. The drop cord 13 is pro jected through the bridge and between the clamping plates 15 and 20 a distance suflicient to permit the wires 12 of the drop cord to be conveniently connected with the terminal wires in the outlet box 1. YVhen the clamping screws 19 are tightened, the drop cord is'gripped or clamped between the sections 16 and 21 of the gripping brackets or plates and is held thereby against rotation or respect to the supporting bridge. j r

The improved supporting bridge in addition to providing a gripping means for the drop cord 13- is adapted to serve as a support for a'canopy 23. The canopy is adapted to be engaged over the drop cord with the lower open end of the canopy seated upon the crinheral head or fian e-24c of a cano P i D Y supporting coupler or sleeve 25. The upper portion of the coupler 25 is internally threaded and has threaded or secured therein the lower end of an externally threaded stem 26. The lower portion of the coupler 25 is internally threaded or provided with a spiral groove to removably receive the upper end of a drop, cord protecting guard spring 27. After-the supporting bridge with the drop cord clamped therein has been attached to the bottom 0133.11 outlet box, thecoupler25 with the canopy 23 resting thereon is pushed upwardly on the drop cord 13 until the upper end of the threaded stem 26 registers with the threaded opening 14. By rotating the coupler 25 the upper end of the threaded stem 26 is threaded through the threaded opening 14 of the lower plate 7 of the bridge thereby gradually raising the canopy un il the upper open end thereof is brdught into seating contact against the ceiling or wall 4 as clearly illustrated in Figure 1. It will be noted that the supporting bridge supports the drop cord and in addition supports the coupler 25 on which the canopy 23 is seated. The coupler 25 in addition to supporting the canopy 23 and the supporting stem 26 also supports the upper end of the coiled n 27 which engages around the drop cord whereit projects through the coupler thereby preventing the drop cord from being sharply bent or brought into contact with the lower edges or" the coupler 25. The dropcord is thus protected or guarded by the coiled spring 27.

Attention is called to the fact that the improved supporting bridge may be removably supported in position on standard outlet boxes of difi'erent sizes and may have a drop cord secured in the gripping means in addition to having the canopy supporting members associated with the middle section of the supporting bridge to permit the drop cord and canopy to be rapidly and conveniently mounted in position supported on an outlet box by the use of a screw driver and perhaps the additional use of a knife for stripping the wires 12 of the drop cord if the same have not already been stripped. The supporting bridge with the drop cord projecting between the gripping or clamping plates is first raised into contact with the bottom of an outlet box and the drop cord is adjusted to permit a sufficient length thereof to project into the outlet box to permit proper connection of the wires. With the drop cord adjusted with respect to the clamping bracket the clamping screws 19 are tightened thereby causing the drop cord to be tightly gripped or clamped between the sections 16 and 21 of the gripper plates or brackets. When the screws 19 are tightened, portions of the drop cord covering bulge into the gripping plate openings 22 thereby causing the drop cord to be held against rotation between the clamping or gripping brackets or plates. With the drop cord clamped in position and supported by the supporting bridge, the bridge may be engaged with the outlet box screws 3 by means of the elongated slots 8 and 9' in the arms 5 of the bridge. When the bridge is thus properly engaged on the screws 3 and is properly centered, the screws are tightened to hold the supporting bridge property securcc in a'centered position supported beneath the outlet box. The canopy supporting unit including the coupler 25, the stem 26, and the guard spring 27 is now slidably raised or pushed upwardly on the drop cord 13 together with the canopy 23 and the upper end of the stem 26 is threaded through the threaded opening 14 in the bottom plate 7 of the middle or U-shaped section of the supporting bridge. The stem 26 is threaded upwardly until the upper end of the canopy is brought into tight-seating contact with the wall or ceiling 4. By mounting the drop cord gripping brackets or plates in a bridged position in the U-shaped section of the supporting bridge above the bottom plate 7, it will be noted that the threaded stem 26 may be adjusted a considerable distance without coming into contact with the gripping means so that it is possible to mount and support canopies of difierent sizes to enclose the supporting bridge.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit the patent granted her-eon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A drop cord and canopy supporting device comprising a U-shaped bridge having ing a bridge plate constructed to permit the same to be secured to standard outlet boxes of different sizes, said bridge plate having a portion thereof bent to form a U-shaped section, a drop cord supporting bracket bridged across said section, an auxiliary clamping bracket, and means for adjusting said auxiliary clamping bracket with respect to the main supporting bracket for gripping a drop cord between the brackets.

16. A su porting bridge device comprising a bridge p ate having a portion thereof deflected to provide a U-shaped section, a drop cord gripping means bridged across said U- Shaped section, and a canopy supporting means engaged in the bottom of said U- sha (1 section.

1 A supporting bridge device comprising a bridge plate having openings therein to permit the bridge plate to be attached to standard outlet boxes of different sizes, and a combination canopy support and drop cord protecting guard engaged with and adjustable with respect to said bridge plate.

18. A supporting bridge device comprising a bridge plate having a threaded opening therein, a supporting stem adjustably threaded throu h said opening, a canopy supporting coupFer secured on one end of said threaded stem and a guard spring removably engaged in said coupler.

19. A supportlng bridge device comprising a bridge plate, a drop cord support carried thereby, and a canopy support removably engaged with said bridge plate and adjustable toward and away from said drop cord supporting means for holding a canopy cllamped in position to enclose the bridge p ate.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cook County,

Illinois.

. JOHN B. GLOWACKI. 

